Reversible container cap



'ug- 28, 1956 I R. o. zENKl-:R 2,760,665

REVERSIBLE CONTAINER CAP Filed May 6, 1955 IN VEN TOR.

Raymond 0. Zenker REVERSIBLE CONTAINER CAP Raymond O. Zenker, Methuen, Mass. Application May 6, 1955, Serial No. 506,491 Claims. (Cl. 215-11) This invention generally relates to a container cap, and more specifically provides improved and novel construction in a container cap that may be reversible and is especially useful for performing its functions in connection with a nursing bottle having a nipple thereon wherein the nipple may be moved from an inverted position to an operative position on the threaded neck of the nursing bottle.

The use of large mouth nursing bottles employing fianged nipples which are held in place by a centrally apertured cap threaded onto the bottle has now become widespread. In its operative position, the nipple extends through the aperture in the cap, an-d the base flange of the nipple is clamped by the cap between the cap and the top of the bottle. When not in use, the nipple may be inverted so that it extends into the bottle, and the cap will again hold it in such a position. A sealing member or disk is normally employed due to the central aperture in the cap, and this sealing disk is disposed between the nipple and the cap and closes the aperture in the cap to protect the interior of the nipple from contamination while in its inverted position. Heretofore, when it was desired to change the nipple from its inverted position in the bottle to its operative position on the bottle, the cap and disk Were removed and the nipple Was changed by grasping it in the fingers of the hand. Similar handlng of the nipple by human hands was required in placing the nipple in inverted position in the bottle. This use of human hands in handling the nipple causes unsanitary conditions and eliminates some of the advantages obtained by sterilization thereof. Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a reversible container cap which may be utilized in positioning the nipple within and inverting the nipple from its inverted position to its operative position without utilizing human hands.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reversible container cap which will permit a nipple to be moved from its inverted position to operative position in an easy and efiicient manner, which Will eliminate contact of the human hands and which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the container cap of the present invention positioned on the threaded neck of a nursing bottle with a nipple positioned in inverted position;

Figure 2 is a sectional view similar to Figure 1 illustratng the construction of the present invention with the nipple in operative position and the sealing member removed;

Figure 3 is a partia] top plan view of the body member;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the fiexible sealing member;

States Patent Figure 5 is a perspective view tioned within the body; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the cylindrical annular body having the Vertical grooves on the inner surface thereof.

Refern'ng now specifically to the drawings, it will be seen that the numeral 10 generally designates the container cap of the present invention for use in conjunction with a nursing bottle 12 having an externally threaded neck 14. The container cap 10 generally includes a cylindrical annular body member 16 having internal threads 18 extending from one end to the other thereof to permit the body 16 to be positioned on the threaded neck 14 from either end of the body 16. A plurality of Vertical longitudinal grooves 20 are positioned in intersecting relation to the threads 18 and terminate at the edge of the outermost thread at each end of the body 16, as designated by the numeral 22. Secondary grooves 24 extending through the outermost thread on the body 16 is positioned in offset relation to the grooves 20 and are in communication therewith in a manner described hereinafter.

An annular disk 26 having a plurality of radial projecting lugs 28 and a central enlarged opening 30 is slidably mounted within the body 16 with the lugs 28 engaged in the grooves 20 for longitudinal movement therein. A flexible sealing member 32 having diametrically opposed lugs 34 and an upstanding handle 36 is positioned within the body member 16 With the l'ugs 34 disposed in opposite grooves 20 in a manner described hereinafter.

A nipple 38 having a base flange 40 is positioned in the body 16 with the nipple 38 extending through the opening 30 and the flange 40 being positioned against the upper surface of the disk 26 when the nipple 38 is positioned in inverted position, as illustrated in Figure 1. The sealing member 32 engages the open end of the nipple 38 forming a closure therefor wherein the nursing bottle 12 may be transported or moved in any desired manner. When it is desired to utilize the nursing bottle 12, it is only necessary to loosen the body 16, remove the flexible sealing member 32 and completely remove the body 16 and invert the body 16 together with the nipple 38 and then screw the body 16 back onto the threaded neck 14 of the bottle 12, thereby positioning the nipple 38 as illustrated in Figure 2 for use in the usual manner. It will be understood that the device of the present .invention may be constructed of any suitable material which may be easily sterilized and may be employed in conjunction with any type of nipple and may also be employed in conjunction with any type of container other than the nursing bottle, as illustrated.

The foregoing is considered as illustratve only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A reversible container cap comprising a tubular body having internal threads extendng throughout the inner surface thereof, said body having a plurality of longitudinal grooves in the inner surface, a circumferential disk mounted in said body, a plurality of projecting lugs on said disk slidably received in said grooves, said grooves having their outer ends closed thereby captively retaining said disk within said body thereby permitting the body to be screw threaded onto a container from either end of the cap.

2. A reversible container cap comprising a tubular body having internal threads extending throughout the inner surface thereof, said body having a plurality of longitudiof the disk movably posi- 3 nfal groove' in the inner surface, a circnmfe'rental di'sk monnted in said body, a plurality o f projecting lugs on said disk slidably received in said grooves, said grooves having their outer ends closed thereby captively retaining said -disk within said body lthere'b'y permitting the body to be screw threaded onto a contain'er from either end 'of the cap, said disk having a 'central opening for removably receving :a nipple therethrough, and -a removable fiexible sealing member positioned in one end of said body for cio'sing said opening in the disk.

3. Areversible container cap comprising a tubiilar body having internal 'threads extending throughout the inner surface thereof, said body having a plurality of longitudinal .grooves in the inner surface, a circumferential disk mounted in said body, a plurality 'of projecting lugs on said disk -slidabiy received in said grooves, said grooves having their outer' ends closed thereby captively retaining said :disk within said body -thereby permitting the body to be screw threaded 'onto a container from either end of the cap, said body having secondary grooves in offset communicating relation With the longitudina'l grooves to permit removal and asscmbly of said disk.

4. A reversible container cap comprising a tubular body having internal threads extending throughout the inner surface thereof, said body having a plurality of longitudinal groov'es in the inner surface, a circumferential disk monnted in said body, a plurality of projecting lugs on said disk slidably received in said grooves, said grooves having their outer ends closed thercby captively retaining said disk within said body thereby permitting the body to be 'screw threaded onto a contai'ner from either end of the cap, 'said disk having 'a central opening for removably receivng a nippie therethrough, and a removable flexible sealing member positioned in one end of said body for closing said opening in the disk, said body having secondary grooves in offset communicating relation With the longitudinal grooves to permit removal and assembly of said disk.

5. A reversible cap for nursing bottles having threaded necks for supporting a nipple in operative and inverted position, said "cap comprisi'ng an annular body having internal threads entend'ing therethrough for engagement with the threaded neck of a nursing bottle from either end of the body, said body Vhaving a plurality of longitudinal grooves intersecting the internal threads and terminating inwardly of the ends of the body, a plurality of secondary grooves extending through the outerrnost thread at one end of said body, said secondary grooves being offset from and in communication With the longitudinal grooves, -a disk having Va plnraiity of projecting lugs siida'bly received 'in said longitudinal grooves, said disk having an opening for -receivng a nipple therein with the base fiange of the nipple engag'ing the disk adjacent the ope I ing, a 'sealing member removably mounted in said bod for cngagem'ent with the open end of the nipple when w the body and nipple are .in inverted tightened position, said sealing being fiexible and provided with projecting lugs for engagement in said longitudinal grooves, and a handie on said fiex-ible member for manipulating the same, said secondary grooves perrnit'ting assembly of said disk and sealing member with said body.

No references cited. 

